E. Ringo et al., THE EFFECT OF EARLY EXPOSURE TO VIBRIO-PELAGIUS ON THE AEROBIC BACTERIAL-FLORA OF TURBOT, SCOPHTHALMUS-MAXIMUS (L) LARVAE, Journal of Applied Bacteriology, 81(2), 1996, pp. 207-211
Vibrio pelagius was added to filtered sea water in experimental tanks
containing newly-hatched larvae of Scophthalmus maximus. The bacterial
load of larvae increased from day 1 post-hatch and by day 14 had reac
hed 5 x 10(4) bacteria per larva. Vibrio pelagius dominated the aerobi
c bacterial flora of larvae exposed to this bacterial species but was
not detected in larvae not exposed to exogenous bacteria. An enzyme-li
nked immunosorbent assay using rabbit antiserum against V. pelagius al
lowed a specific quantitative assay for homologous bacterial antigens
in individual larvae, with very little cross-reaction against heterolo
gous bacteria. The results of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays of V.
pelagius antigens in larvae from tank water inoculated with this bact
erial species correlated with the bacterial levels found in the larvae
by culture on agar plates.